New Library Items RSS feed

If you want to keep track of new items here at the library, there are a couple of ways to do it.

I periodically update a Google Spreadsheet with new items. It is subdivided by collection, so you can see new titles in DVD, Art, or our Reference collections.

A newer method uses RSS feeds -- also known as Really Simple Syndication. Put this link in your RSS reader -- Google Reader and My Yahoo! are two popular readers -- and keep track of the newest additions to the Coker Library. Note that everything that gets added to our catalog will show up, including equipment and odd items like study room keys.

Study Room Keys

All study rooms will now be accessible only by key. Stop by the circulation desk and check out a key for any available study or media room.

Thanks!

Devastating Fire at Columbia International University Library

Some astute users of our library catalog may have noticed that we share our catalog with several other colleges and universities in South Carolina. One of these schools, Columbia International University, had a devastating fire in their library this weekend. We worked extensively with the staff and librarians at CIU when we trained on our current library catalog system.

The heat was so intense that when firefighters entered the building, books were undergoing spontaneous combustion. Metal shelving warped due to this heat. The entire building has smoke damage and has suffered severe structural damage. Every item has some smoke damage, and an estimated 20,000 volumes were completely destroyed.

Although there is never a "good" time to have a fire in a library, CIU is heading into final exams this week, with commencement scheduled for May 15th.

The state academic library partnership -- PASCAL -- will be mobilizing to help CIU's library get back on its feet.

We will keep everyone informed with whatever statewide recovery plans emerge in the next few days.

Friday Afternoon Humor